CONTEMPLATION

2019 RELEASE/ Internationally-acclaimed Jazz songstress from Japan, TAEKO, releases her 4th album in the US as a leader on October 10th. In TAEKO’s own words: “This album shows my true love and dedication to the African-American classical art form called jazz, as a singer who came from Japan where this music is truly loved.” With a never-ending stream of musical ideas and fluidity of delivery that shows years of studying her craft, TAEKO has built a distinctively unique approach to jazz in addition to mastering the traditional vocal and instrumental aspects. This album features songs written by the beloved jazz greats such as Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Benny Golson, Mal Waldron, and Billie Holiday, with TAEKO’s unique point of view and arrangement. The album starts off with the tribute to this year’s centennial celebration of Art Blakey, with TAEKO’s arrangement of the Japanese titled Cedar Walton Jazz Messenger classic “Ugetsu”.

CONTEMPLATION (2019/Flat Nine Records) features songs written by the beloved Jazz greats such as Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Benny Golson, Mal Waldron, and Billie Holiday. All of the arrangements heard on the record are Taeko’s.

The album begins with Taeko’s arrangement of Ugetsu, a Cedar Walton classic recorded and performed by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. 2019, the year of the album release, marks the centennial celebration of Art Blakey.

The title track, McCoy Tyner’s “Contemplation”, continues Taeko’s exploration of the Doug Carn songbook. Taeko’s arrangement of the song adds Sumie Kaneko’s koto (Japanese 13-string harp) to the group, giving the pensive piece a distinctive Eastern tinged meditative flavor.

Track Info:Ugetsu: Fantasy, Left Alone, Contemplation, The Sun Die, High Wire etc

Personnel :

TAEKO - Vocal / Theo Hill - Piano / François Moutin - Bass / Victor Jones - Drums Guest: Sumie Kaneko – Koto Producers: TAEKO, Victor Jones, Jeff Jones

Executive Producer: Michael Wolk

Label : Flat Nine Records Inc.

WONDERLAND

2013 RELEASE/ WONDERLAND (2013/Flat Nine Records), TAEKO's third release in the US as a leader, is an electrifying collaboration with jazz geniuses such as the legendary Doug Carn and Victor Jones. Carn released a series of album on the Black Jazz Label in the 1970’s: and the veteran drummer Victor Jones is best-known for his work with Chaka Khan, Phyllis Hyman, and Dizzy Gillespie. The record was produced by Mark Ruffin, renowned Jazz DJ at Sirius XM Radio.

Produced by MARK RUFFIN and TAEKO FUKAO. The thrilling and striking New York-based Japanese songstress TAEKO FUKAO's 3rd record to date in electrifying collaboration with jazz geniuses such as legendary DOUG CARN who released excellent series of albums from Black Jazz Label in 1970's and veteran drummer Victor Jones who's best-known for his work with Chaka Khan, Phyllis Hyman, and Dizzy Gillespie, evincing her mastery of musical vocabulary with powerful and creative renditions of American Jazz and Pop classics and Japanese folk song.

Label : Flat Nine Records Inc.

VOICE

2010 RELEASE/ VOICE (2010/Flat Nine Records), Taeko's second release in the US, is a vibrant patchwork of styles that reveals the passion with which she has explored the range of the Jazz idiom. It's a showcase of both her intense study and versatility.

"[Her] overall effect is sometimes like being strafed by a benign scattergun loaded with different styles. All of which makes the album's title more appropriate" Piers Ford Cry-me-a-torch-song.com

Track Info Cantaloupe Island, Infant Eys, Sugar, Inner City Blues, BIWAKO etc

Personnel: Taeko Fukao: Vocals, Greg Lewis: Organ Keven McNeal: Guitar, Doug Richardson: Drums Melodica Lou Rainone: Piano, Gaku Takanashi: Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass Wah-Wah Guitar

Produced by Doug Richardson & Taeko Fukao

ONE LOVE

2007 RELEASE/ ONE LOVE (2007/Flat Nine Records) introduces Taeko as a bright young star of brilliant ideas and impeccable executions. “Taeko has remarkable range and vocal command, able to manipulate normal notes into tapestries of sound. She tempers deep soulfulness reminiscent of Anita Baker with sophisticated scatting a la Ella Fitzgerald. The combination is a treat and never feels forced.”

Track Info Dindi, I’ve Never Been In Love Before, Travlin’ Ligh etc

Personnel:Taeko Fukao: Vocals Harry Whitaker: Piano, Misha Tsiganov: Piano, Gaku Takanashi: Bass Dwayne Burno: Bass, Doug Richardson: Drums & Piano

Produced by: Doug Richardson & Taeko Fukao

STUDIES with

Juanita Fleming – Gospel and Jazz Singer, Actress, Voice Trainer

Marion Cowings - Jazz Singer, Lyricist, Actor, the disciple of Jon Hendricks

Barry Harris - Legendary Jazz Pianist, Jazz Educator Media

Media Appearances in the US

Sirius XM Satellite Radio (New York, NY) / WHCR FM (New York, NY) / WRTI FM (Philadelphia, PA) / WICN FM (Boston, MA) / WWUH (Hartford, CT) Manhattan Cable Network (New York, NY) / New York Post (New York) / Japion / Weekly NY Seikatsu / Yomi Time

Media Appearances in Japan

Commercial Song for Apple Watch Series 4 “Hokey Pokey” TV Kanagawa, Kanagaw

NHK Otsu, Shiga / Radio Kansai, Osaka / e-radio FM Shiga

Alpha Station FM, Kyoto / KBS Kyoto Radio, Kyoto / Kyoto Shinbun

Chunichi Shinbun / Yomiuri Shinbun

Live Appearances in the US

CBlue Note New York, New York City / Yoshi’s San Francisco, CA / Cape May Jazz Festival, NJ / North East Florida Jazz Festival, FL / United Philadelphia Jazz Festival, PA / Japan Day at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park / NY Monday Night Concert at Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT / Chickenbone Beach Jazz Series, Atlantic City, NJ / Gainesville Florida Friends of Jazz Concert, Gainsville, FL / Women in Jazz Festival/ by International Women in Jazz, Inc, New York City The Nighttown. Cleveland, OH, The Kitano, New York City / Birdland Jazz Club, New York City / Kitano, New York City / Zinc Bar, New York City / …to name a few